Principality of Turov and Pinsk
Encyclopedia
The Duchy of Turov and Pinsk was a medieval principality and state on the territory of modern southern Belarus
and northern Ukraine
. The principality's capital was Turov or Pinsk
, other important cities were Mazyr
and Slutsk
, Lutsk
, Brest
, and Volodymyr-Volynskyi
. Until 12th century the principality was very closely associated with the principalities of Kiev and Volyn.
tribe, circumstances of its creation are not clearly known. According to the legend, the town of Turau
was founded around 950
(1-st mentioned in 980
) by prince Tur, a brother of Rogvolod.
elected him the Grand Prince of Rus. In 1016 Yaroslav the Wise who ruled in Novgorod threw a challenge against the newly elected Grand Prince. Yaroslav was successful in the battle near Lyubech which became the decisive. Svyatopolk, however, retreated to Poland and in couple of years came back under the military support of Boleslav the Brave. Yaroslav was forced to retreat, but not for long. Soon during one of the engagements Svyatopolk was wounded and died sometime in 1019. Yaroslav became the Grand Prince of Rus claiming all the other regions of it as well.
, Izyaslav Yaroslavich became regional administrator of Principality of Turov and Pinsk. During the 11th century three of the Turov's princes held the title of Grand Prince of Rus. The region was for some time also left for his descendants. Upon the death of Izyaslav the principality was given to his oldest son Yaropolk Izyaslavich
who also was awarded the administration of Volyn by the new Grand Prince Vsevolod. Yaropolk assisted Vsevolod and his Vladimir Monomakh in the fight for the principality of Chernigov against Oleg of Chernigov. With times Yaropolk has developed an unease relationship with the neighboring Rostislavichi who ruled the land of Halych and wanted to expand into Volyn as well. The Grand Prince, however, installed Davyd Igorevich in Volyn setting Yaropolk in a bitter opposition to him. During his conflict with Kiev Yaropolk was forced to flee to Poland leaving his family in Lutsk
. He, however, was allowed to return, but soon was murdered under unknown circumstances.
who administered the land of Novgorod. When Svyatopolk became the Grand Prince of Rus, he passed the principality of Turov to his nephew and son of Yaropolk Vyacheslav. Later Svyatopolk has given to his sons Yaroslav and Mstislav Volodymyr-Volynskyi
and Brest
. As the Grand Prince Svyatopolk also tried to conquer the rebellious Rostislvichi who established themselves well in the land of Halych. However, his attempts were rather unsuccessful. In 1100 the principality of Turov was passed to Yaroslav Svyatopolkovich who ruled both lands of Turov and Volyn. During another conflict between the prince of Turov and the Grand Prince of Rus Yaroslav was eliminated out of his realm in 1118. The land of Turov then was passed to another son of Svyatopolk Bryachislav, while Volyn was given to one of the sons of Vladimir Monomakh Roman.
Andrei and Boris. Finally in 1162 the principality was passed by Yuri Dolgoruki back to one of the Izyaslavichi Yury Yaroslavich, grandson of Svyatopolk II of Kiev, who gained full independence from Kievan Rus'
. However, at the same time the duchy became more and more divided between several sons of the duke Yury. A semi-independent Duchy of Pinsk was created. Along with the Duchy of Smolensk, the army of Turau participated in the Battle of the Kalka River
in 1223.
. In early 14th century the Duchy non-violently joined the Grand Duchy. By that time Hleb Narymunt
, the son of Gediminas, was already ruler of Pinsk, while Turov and Haradok were still ruled by Rurikids. Later the territory of the Duchy became part of Brest Litovsk, Nowogródek, and Minsk Voivodeship
s.
Izyalavichi
Monomakh (of Smolensk)
Dolgoruki
Yuryevichi (Izyaslavichi's branch)
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
and northern Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. The principality's capital was Turov or Pinsk
Pinsk
Pinsk , a town in Belarus, in the Polesia region, traversed by the river Pripyat, at the confluence of the Strumen and Pina rivers. The region was known as the Marsh of Pinsk. It is a fertile agricultural center. It lies south-west of Minsk. The population is about 130,000...
, other important cities were Mazyr
Mazyr
Mazyr, also Mozyr is a city in the Homiel Province of Belarus on the Pripyat River about 210 km east of Pinsk and 100 km northwest of Chernobyl and is located at approximately . The population is 111,770 . The total urban area including Kalinkavičy across the river has a population of...
and Slutsk
Slutsk
Slutsk is a town in Belarus, located on the Sluch River south of Minsk. As of 2010 its population is of 61,400).-Geography:The town is situated in the south-west of its Voblast, not too far from from the city of Soligorsk.-History:...
, Lutsk
Lutsk
Lutsk is a city located by the Styr River in northwestern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Volyn Oblast and the administrative center of the surrounding Lutskyi Raion within the oblast...
, Brest
Brest, Belarus
Brest , formerly also Brest-on-the-Bug and Brest-Litovsk , is a city in Belarus at the border with Poland opposite the city of Terespol, where the Bug River and Mukhavets rivers meet...
, and Volodymyr-Volynskyi
Volodymyr-Volynskyi
Volodymyr-Volynsky is a city located in Volyn Oblast, in north-western Ukraine. Serving as the administrative centre of the Volodymyr-Volynsky District, the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast...
. Until 12th century the principality was very closely associated with the principalities of Kiev and Volyn.
History
The duchy originated from the dregovichDregovichs
The Dregoviches were one of the tribal unions of Early East Slavs, and inhabited the territories down the stream of the Pripyat River and northern parts of the right bank of the Dnieper river...
tribe, circumstances of its creation are not clearly known. According to the legend, the town of Turau
Turau
Turaŭ or Turaw is a town in the Zhytkavichy Raion of Homiel Province of Belarus and the former capital of the medieval Principality of Turov and Pinsk.-History:...
was founded around 950
950
Year 950 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Duke Boleslav I of Bohemia makes peace with Otto I....
(1-st mentioned in 980
980
Year 980 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Otto II renounces his claim to Lorraine.* The Viking ring castle of Trelleborg is constructed in Denmark....
) by prince Tur, a brother of Rogvolod.
Kiev Principality
During the times of Vladimir the Great the city of Turov with its near adjacent area became part of the realm of Kievan Rus. Sometime at the end of the 10th century Svyatopolk was appointed by Vladimir a prince of Turov. Svyatoslav was taken to jail later by his father for unknown reason, however, after the death of Vladimir he was freed and the Kiev city vecheVeche
Veche was a popular assembly in medieval Slavic countries.In Novgorod, where the veche acquired the greatest prominence, the veche was broadly similar to the Norse thing or the Swiss Landsgemeinde.-Etymology:...
elected him the Grand Prince of Rus. In 1016 Yaroslav the Wise who ruled in Novgorod threw a challenge against the newly elected Grand Prince. Yaroslav was successful in the battle near Lyubech which became the decisive. Svyatopolk, however, retreated to Poland and in couple of years came back under the military support of Boleslav the Brave. Yaroslav was forced to retreat, but not for long. Soon during one of the engagements Svyatopolk was wounded and died sometime in 1019. Yaroslav became the Grand Prince of Rus claiming all the other regions of it as well.
Oscillation
In 1042 after marrying Gertrude of PolandGertrude of Poland
Gertrude , princess of Poland, was the daughter of King Mieszko II of Poland and Richeza of Lotharingia.In 1043, she was married to Iziaslav I of Kiev. She had three sons, Yaropolk Iziaslavich, Mstislav and Sviatopolk II, by her husband.Her daughter Eupraxia later married her cousin's son Mieszko...
, Izyaslav Yaroslavich became regional administrator of Principality of Turov and Pinsk. During the 11th century three of the Turov's princes held the title of Grand Prince of Rus. The region was for some time also left for his descendants. Upon the death of Izyaslav the principality was given to his oldest son Yaropolk Izyaslavich
Yaropolk Izyaslavich
Yaropolk Izyaslavich was a Knyaz during the eleventh-century in the Kievan Rus' kingdom and was the King of Rus . The son of Grand Prince Izyaslav Yaroslavich by a Polish princess named Gertruda, he is visible in papal sources by the early 1070s but largely absent in contemporary Rus sources...
who also was awarded the administration of Volyn by the new Grand Prince Vsevolod. Yaropolk assisted Vsevolod and his Vladimir Monomakh in the fight for the principality of Chernigov against Oleg of Chernigov. With times Yaropolk has developed an unease relationship with the neighboring Rostislavichi who ruled the land of Halych and wanted to expand into Volyn as well. The Grand Prince, however, installed Davyd Igorevich in Volyn setting Yaropolk in a bitter opposition to him. During his conflict with Kiev Yaropolk was forced to flee to Poland leaving his family in Lutsk
Lutsk
Lutsk is a city located by the Styr River in northwestern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Volyn Oblast and the administrative center of the surrounding Lutskyi Raion within the oblast...
. He, however, was allowed to return, but soon was murdered under unknown circumstances.
Opposition to Vladimir Monomakh
The Turov principality was passed to his younger brother Sviatopolk IISviatopolk II of Kiev
Sviatopolk II Iziaslavich was supreme ruler of the Kievan Rus for 20 years, from 1093 to 1113. He was not a popular prince, and his reign was marked by incessant rivalry with his cousin Vladimir Monomakh...
who administered the land of Novgorod. When Svyatopolk became the Grand Prince of Rus, he passed the principality of Turov to his nephew and son of Yaropolk Vyacheslav. Later Svyatopolk has given to his sons Yaroslav and Mstislav Volodymyr-Volynskyi
Volodymyr-Volynskyi
Volodymyr-Volynsky is a city located in Volyn Oblast, in north-western Ukraine. Serving as the administrative centre of the Volodymyr-Volynsky District, the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast...
and Brest
Brest, Belarus
Brest , formerly also Brest-on-the-Bug and Brest-Litovsk , is a city in Belarus at the border with Poland opposite the city of Terespol, where the Bug River and Mukhavets rivers meet...
. As the Grand Prince Svyatopolk also tried to conquer the rebellious Rostislvichi who established themselves well in the land of Halych. However, his attempts were rather unsuccessful. In 1100 the principality of Turov was passed to Yaroslav Svyatopolkovich who ruled both lands of Turov and Volyn. During another conflict between the prince of Turov and the Grand Prince of Rus Yaroslav was eliminated out of his realm in 1118. The land of Turov then was passed to another son of Svyatopolk Bryachislav, while Volyn was given to one of the sons of Vladimir Monomakh Roman.
Reinstatement
After the death of Bryachislav Vladimir Monomakh gave the Turov principality to his Vyacheslav who kept it until the mid of 12th century. Around 1150s Turov belonged to the descendants of Yuri DolgorukiYuri Dolgoruki
Prince Yuri I Dolgorukiy , also known as George I of Rus, was the founder of Moscow and a key figure in the transition of political power from Kiev to Vladimir-Suzdal following the death of his elder brother Mstislav the Great...
Andrei and Boris. Finally in 1162 the principality was passed by Yuri Dolgoruki back to one of the Izyaslavichi Yury Yaroslavich, grandson of Svyatopolk II of Kiev, who gained full independence from Kievan Rus'
Kievan Rus'
Kievan Rus was a medieval polity in Eastern Europe, from the late 9th to the mid 13th century, when it disintegrated under the pressure of the Mongol invasion of 1237–1240....
. However, at the same time the duchy became more and more divided between several sons of the duke Yury. A semi-independent Duchy of Pinsk was created. Along with the Duchy of Smolensk, the army of Turau participated in the Battle of the Kalka River
Battle of the Kalka River
The Battle of the Kalka River took place on May 31, 1223, between the Mongol Empire and Kiev, Galich, and several other Rus' principalities and the Cumans, under the command of Mstislav the Bold and Mstislav III of Kiev...
in 1223.
Decline
In early 13th century the Duchy of Turov became dependent of the Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia. To liberate itself from it, the dukes of Turov cooperated more and more with the Grand Duchy of LithuaniaGrand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state from the 12th /13th century until 1569 and then as a constituent part of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until 1791 when Constitution of May 3, 1791 abolished it in favor of unitary state. It was founded by the Lithuanians, one of the polytheistic...
. In early 14th century the Duchy non-violently joined the Grand Duchy. By that time Hleb Narymunt
Narymunt
Narimantas or Narymunt was the second eldest son of Gediminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania. During various periods of his life, he ruled Pinsk and Polatsk. In 1333 he was invited by Novgorod's nobles to rule and protect territories in the north, Ladoga, Oreshek and Korela...
, the son of Gediminas, was already ruler of Pinsk, while Turov and Haradok were still ruled by Rurikids. Later the territory of the Duchy became part of Brest Litovsk, Nowogródek, and Minsk Voivodeship
Minsk Voivodeship
Minsk Voivodeship was a unit of administrative division and local government in Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413 and later in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth till the partitions of the Commonwealth in 1795...
s.
Regions of the Principality
- Duchy of Turov (10th century - 14th century)
- Duchy of Pinsk (12th century - 16th century)
- Duchy of Kletsk (12th century - 15th century)
- Duchy of Slutsk-Kopyl (12th century - 16th century)
- Duchy of Dubrovytsia (12th century - 13th century)
Prince of Turov
- Sviatopolk I Accursed (980-1019)
Izyalavichi
- Iziaslav I Yaroslavich (about 1045-1078)
- Yaropolk Petr Izyaslavich(1078–1087)
- Sviatopolk II Mikhail Izyaslavich (1087–1094)
- Vyacheslav Yaropolkovich (1094-1104/1105|5)
Monomakh (of Smolensk)
- Vyacheslav Monomakhovich (1125–1132)
- Iziaslav II Monomakhovich (1133–1134)
- Vyacheslav Monomakhovich (1134–1141)
- Vyacheslav Monomakhovich (1142–1146)
- ?
Dolgoruki
- Andrei I Bogolubski (1150–1151)
- ?
- Borys I (1155–1157)
Yuryevichi (Izyaslavichi's branch)
- Yuri Yaroslavovich (1157–1167)
- Ivan Yuryevich (1167–1190)
- Gleb (1190–1195)
- Ivan Yuryevich (1195–1207)
- Rostislav Glebovich (1207–1228)
- ?
- Yuri Volodymyrovich (?-1292)
- Dmytro Yuryevich (1292-)
- Danylo Dmytrovich (?-before 1366)
Prince of Pinsk
Yuryevichi (Izyaslavichi's branch)- Jarosław Juriewicz (-1184-)
- Włodzimierz Glebowicz (-1228-)
- Rościsław Włodzimierzowicz (-1242-)
- Fiodor Włodzimierzowicz (-1262-)
- Jerzy Włodzimierzowicz (-1292)
- Demid Włodzimierzowicz (1292-to 1292)
- Jarosław Juriewicz (to 1292-)
- Jerzy Dymitrowicz
- Giedymin (1320- ?)
- Narymunt Gleb (1340–1348)
- Michał Glebowicz Narymuntowicz (1348-?)
- Wasyl Michajłowicz Narymuntowicz (14th century)
- Jerzy Nos Wasylewicz Narymuntowicz (before 1398- after 1410)
- Jerzy Semenowicz (before 1440-after 1471)
- Maria Olelkowicz (1471–1501)
- Wasyl Olelkowicz (1480–1495)
- Fiodor Iwanowicz Jarosławicz (1501–1521)
Prince of Kletsk
Yuryevichi (Izyaslavichi's branch)- Wiaczesław Jarosławicz (1127- ?)
- ?
- Michał Zygmuntowicz (1442–1452)
Prince of Slutsk-Kopyl
- Jarosław Izasławowicz ? (1148)
- Światosław Olegowicz (1148–1162
- Włodzimierz Mścisławowicz (1162–1164) ?
- ?
- Włodzimierz Olgierdowicz (1395–1398)
- Aleksander Olelko (1398–1454)
- Michał Olelkowicz (1454-1470/1481)
- Szymon I Olelkowicz (1481–1505)
- Jerzy I Olelkowicz (1505–1542)
- Szymon II Olelkowicz (1542–1560)
- Jerzy II Olelkowicz (1560–1572)
- Jerzy III Olelkowicz (1572–1586)
Prince of Dubrovytsia
- Iwan Juriewicz (1166–1182) ?
- Gleb Juriewicz (1182–1190)
- Aleksander Glebowicz (1190–1223)